Preston Weinard

Biography

Weinard enters his fifth season as Jacksonville's head coach in 2025-26. 2024-25 Varsity 4+ crew finished ninth at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships, the best finish in program history … Coached Ole Gruenert to Second-Team IRCA All-American Honors, John Even Loftesnes to Honorable Mention All-American Honors … 10 players named IRCA Scholar Athletes, most in Weinard’s head coaching tenure … Team posted a program record 3.41 GPA … Led JU staff nominated for IRCA Division 1 Staff of the Year 2023-24 Named a finalist for IRCA Division 1 Coach of the Year … First and Second Varsity 8+ crews qualified for the IRA National Championships … First Varsity 8+ placed 24th at IRA Nationals, Second Varsity 8+ finished 22nd … First Varsity 8+ placed third at the SIRA Regatta, 8th at Dad Vail … Second Varsity 8+ placed third at SIRA, fifth at Dad Vail … Coached Ole Gruenert to honorable mention IRCA All-American honors … Eight rowers named IRCA Scholar Athletes 2022-23 Varsity 4+ crew improved two spots to a 10th place finish at the IRA National Championships, a program-best finish … Varsity 8+ earned a second place finish at SIRA, sixth place at Dad Vail … Second Varsity 8+ placed seventh at Dad Vail … Second Varsity 4+ placed second at Dad Vail … Seven rowers named IRCA Scholar Athletes 2021-22 Coached the Varsity 8+ crew finished second at the SIRA Regatta, seventh at Dad Vail… Varsity 4+ boat placed 12th at the IRA national championships … Second Varsity 8+ won the SIRA Championship, placed sixth at Dad Vail … Seven rowers named IRCA Scholar Athletes PRIOR TO JACKSONVILLE Weinard is a former JU rower who spent time as an assistant and associate head coach for the Dolphins, helping lead Jacksonville back to the IRA National Championships. He was named head coach in July of 2021. “Preston’s passion for JU rowing and our university was evident throughout the process,” said Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert. “He cares about our core values and his vision is student-athlete centered. JU men’s rowing has a proud tradition and as an alumnus, Preston is the right person to lead our program forward into the future.” “I am so grateful and excited to be named the next head coach for men’s rowing at Jacksonville University,” said Weinard. “This opportunity means the world to me, and I look forward to continuing the progress and success our men’s team has earned in the last four years.” After the pandemic-shortened season in 2020, Weinard helped ease the transition back to the water in the spring of 2021, and the Dolphins turned in its most successful season in years. JU sent two Varsity 8 boats to IRA for the first time ever, and the 1st Varsity 8+ posted a top-30 finish nationally, while the 2nd Varsity 8+ finished in the top-25. This was after the team returned to the Dad Vail for the first time since 2019, and finished fourth and fifth in the 2nd and 1st Varsity Finals, respectively. On top of the success on the water, nine members of the team were recognized by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association as Scholar-Athletes, which are presented to rowers who are in the program’s top three boats or IRA qualifiers and maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. Weinard was a rower at JU for three years, and served as a team captain his senior year. He rowed two years as part of the Junior Varsity 8+ and a years in the Varsity 8+ boat, helping JU to a seventh-place finish as a senior. He also raced in the Varsity 4+, where he led JU to the IRA Nationals for the first time in program history for the 4+ in 2013. “JU Rowing has a very proud history and successful past, and I am so proud to have been a part of it as a student-athlete, a graduate assistant, assistant coach and now as head men’s coach,” said Weinard.

Known For

Program Culture

The program under Weinard emphasizes academic excellence alongside competitive achievement, with a strong focus on program tradition and continuous improvement. There's a clear emphasis on developing well-rounded student-athletes who contribute to the university community, as evidenced by the high number of Scholar-Athletes and improving competitive results year over year.

Career Path

Recruiting Priorities

• •Academic excellence and ability to maintain high GPA
• •Character and leadership potential
• •Athletes who can contribute to team culture and program building